Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 6.djvu/465

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.
THE MAIN FIGHT.
421

CHAP. VI.
6th Period.

people could hardly be other than an appalling chap. disaster. Thus, by all the strongest motives that could actuate a commander, General Dannenberg was impelled to desire that he might not only be able to keep for some hours the footing he had gained on Shell Hill, but that also by some happy chance he might be suffered to hold his ground without having to light in defence of it.

Canrobet's action in accordance wth Danberg's wishes course of General Ganrobert commanded two - thirds of the troops opposing General Dannenberg; and, so tar as concerned that large portion of the whole Ailed force, he fulfilled the heart's desire of his adversary, by abandoning the offensive against him.

III.

Non-concurrence of the English in Canrobert's plan of abandoning the offensive.

For our people to agree with General Canrobert in abandoned the offensive against Dannenberg whilst he held seven-eighths of Mount Inkerman would have been to make a final resolve, conceding to him the victory; but in this truce, if so one may call it, between the French and the Russians, Lord Eaglan did not concur, and within those contracted proportions to which the confiict had now been reduced, it was destined to last two hours more. The French thus standing apart, we shall have to follow the conflict betwixt the Eussians and the English alone ; but before going on, it seems right to mention an occurrence which, however trifling in itself, is still a subject of interest to the Czar's loyal people.